CASTIGATION CYCLE

art + song combo based on the Manticore from LANCER RPG

(backup link: https://youtu.be/0Hx86LU_i6s?si=__vXAEX8aGPyXU2N )

“Don’t Forget” - Deltarune: A Prophecy and a Warning.

Think the ending song was a little sickly sweet? Me too. Luckily, we can make it all dark and ominous. In fact, I’m going so far as to say it was intended to be that way. A fun secret, like a human under your bed.

It’s easy to think this is not a deep song. It makes sense that deltarune’s credits song would draw on the emotional tropes of light against dark and of interpersonal connection. They are common and powerful in all media, and roughly fit the themes we faced in the Dark World. The result leaves the player with a taste of vague hopeful feelings despite hardship, because we made friends.

However, a shallow reading is a flat reading, and Toby Fox, our local master of music, wouldn’t do that to us with the only song that has lyrics. Especially not since, as @rogue-of-broken-time‘s incredible video shows, “Don’t Forget” is deltarune’s most ubiquitous motif.

I have one of three readings of this song. But to be as showy as possible, I’m starting with my favorite and the most dramatic.

TL;DR: Everything in “Don’t Forget” is an omen and a warning. Kris, Susie, and/or Noelle will suffer poor health or death; an agreement we made as the player is not forgotten; and something equivalent to or more powerful than Gaster with us when we stop playing.

Interpretation Start!

        “When the light is running low,”

Light is a nod to Lightners. Low light is less light. (HP can also “run low”.)

If you take this at face value, this is a hint toward the death/poor health of our Lightners in future Chapters. Namely being Kris, Susie, and Noelle. 

We have seen some of this already, as some townspeople comment on Kris’ sickly appearance; Noelle’s own father is in the hospital with an unknown illness; and Noelle herself uses many idiomatic phrases involving death (”I’d LITERALLY die.”)

        “And the shadows start to grow,”

As “light” is to Lightners, “shadows” are to Darkners. 

This Chapter is all about the “start” of Darkners. We get introduced to the Dark World, to Darkner characters Asriel Ralsei and Lancer, and their “purpose.” 

As “shadows grow,” I’d expect the increased presence, frequency, or influence of Darkners in future Chapters. 

Note: shadows are also caused by holes, like the one in Kris’ body where that pesky SOUL used to be.

        “And the places that you know seem like fantasy,”

There are three readings here.

Literally, a closet in Kris’ familiar and frequented school briefly appears to them and Susie as a fantasy RPG. 

On one level of meta, in the town, the characters we know from UNDERTALE seem.. strange. [The list of differences deserve their own post(s), and many people have catalogued these. I encourage you to read up on them.] 

All of these together, and it is almost like an AU, or a fan-fic. In other words, a fantasy. 

On two levels of meta, we are going off the assumption that deltarune and UNDERTALE are just games. We know them. They’re fantasy. Despite all of the ominous agreements, distressing imagery, and threatening plot twists, it could never hurt us. It is not part of our reality now. We are distant and unguarded.

Is that safe?

        “There’s a light inside your soul,”

This is the trickiest line in the bunch. I’d guess at the possible significance of player actually being another Lightner, or perhaps the influence of an existing Lightner upon the player. I think this will become more clear in future Chapters. In the meantime, just a sweet thing to make the song sound sweet.

        “That’s still shining in the cold,”

This could be another “sweet thing” except for the conspicuous reference to fall/winter. It is noticeable that as winter comes, the days shorten, and the only light that can replace it is artificial. Is that the glow of fire, or something unnatural?

        “And the truth, the promise in our hearts,”

Starting with hearts, the player is literally a heart. This is how we are represented at the very beginning of the game, surrounded by a black void, before the idea of a vessel is even mentioned. Also, when Kris rips the heart out, the player’s frantic inputs only control the heart inside the birdcage, not Kris.

You may not remember a promise, but there were technically a few. The questions you’re asked at the end of the survey count.

The most significant promise the player made is one you might not have even seen. If you played Mac like I did, then you missed it as well. If you played Windows, you saw it. Windows players were presented with a license agreement at the installation wizard. It was... threatening.

“YOU ACCEPT EVERYTHING THAT WILL HAPPEN FROM NOW ON.” Hm!! Sure don’t need to worry about that again!

Especially with this last line...

        “Don’t forget, I’m with you in the dark.”

Think again of the heart in a black void. Think again of the voice, saying we are connected. What’s the track? It’s “ANOTHERHIM.” As in “him,” the datamined name for... what else? Gaster’s theme.

[Gaster theory is not my forte, but suffice it to say he is a very creepy and very powerful individual, reminiscent of a mad scientist playing God.]

As for dark, this time I’m not reading it as Darkner, nor Dark World. Sure, you can settle for that, but we hear a slowed-down music track of Gaster’s in the “real” world, by the bunker. It’s bad theory to pretend otherwise.

Not the right “dark” for this reading, Try this one:

When the game is closed and our computers are off, what do we see?

....

To recap! 

deltarune’s ending lyrics leave us with some foreboding messages.

Death and/or ill health is coming for the protagonists of deltarune. We are held to a promise to accept everything that may come. And an equivalent of Gaster is with us after we shut our computers off.

Now THAT’s worthy of our Toby!!!!!

Hey! So, I got a bunch of questions about me? I know a lot of you are here for the imagines and stuff so just a heads up that this post is just gonna be answering questions about me which was really fun to write but I’m aware it’s not all your jams so yeah. Here we go!

YES! I adore the designs of the main three heroes and the team rpg style was a lot of fun. My favourite characters are Lancer and Susie and I have such a strong urge to draw Kris in their dark world clothing but I never got around to it and at this point probably never will. But Yes I have played it and I loved it the puzzles were super fun and the characters are just incredible.

Uh man, my song choices are super odd. Most of what’s on my ipod are musicals (Dear Evan Hanson, Hamilton, Heather's, Mean Girls, Matilda, ect) and I also really enjoy listening to fan songs on youtube (Whitney Avalon, Man on the Internet, Random Encounters, JT music).  I don’t really have a favourite song, I tend to jump around but ones that I think might be worth checking out if you have some free time are Little Bird by Ed Sheeran (the song reminds me of Swapfell Papyrus so much) I didn’t plan it from the musical Waitress (not my favourite song from this musical but it’s been stuck in my head all week) I do adore by Mindy Gledhill (It’s super cute) I can’t decide by Scissor sisters (I always start singing this out loud for no reason) annnnnnnd World burn and I’d rather be me from the Mean Girls Musical (I just like them) 

I’m from Australia! I, uh, don’t think I have a strong accent but I do have a slight stutter and have difficulty pronouncing some words. Like Nearly is Nelly and finished becomes Finach like spinach. Stuff like that. Maybe I’ll record something someday and you can tell me how strong my accent it XD

Yeah I do both of these things a lot. I work night shifts and often find myself breaking out in song at around 2am. Since I’m also alone on most of these shifts its the perfect opportunity to have a conversation with myself, I usually try to plan out story ideas or things for DND 

Hahaha yeah I have a real phobia of Birds. Spiders, no problem, small spaces, easy done, a small bird stands before me on the footpath I will cross the goddamn street to not deal with that or risk a mental breakdown in the middle of the road. My friend has had to deal with me crying and having a panic attack because a magpie took a few steps towards me. I am petrified of birds. 

I thank you for the distraction XD this was really fun and a nice change from the requests. 

Rpg Wigs

Games With Gold is a first great range Mmog from China to develop through the western world in several years. Included in the first instant you log-in you’ll see it is a game that is properly not exactly like the normal flux of Korean and Developed MMORPGs. Besides other is pleasing. Distinct is essential. Games With Gold efforts to bring the various elements conspicuously displayed in MMORPGs and stuffs them into single game. The challenge significant environmental surroundings is, can you make use of it? Other than cosmetic makeup products, you should purchase Ausgyth cherish treatments, that offer you tokens being traded for bronze shards, a forex for the huge swath of products in a related NPC-especially making mats and levels 49 apparel. Additionally, there exist struggling with improving potions, ability and stat reset manuscripts. Many of the making mats available are necessary making ingredients, exactly like the Divine Sigil. Nevertheless they can, that is why it appears to be, be obtained and not having to dedicate profits the income outlet. Eventhough the simplicity of forking out bucks to avoid crushing is available. Subsequently after with fortitude expecting the download to try and do, game enthusiasts are rewarded with this business to participate in the game. Gamers choose from six backrounds, each individual with one-of-a-kind racial qualities and bonus items. Gamers may make men and women statistics aside from the Elin, Popori, and Baraka backrounds. Gamers that they like to experience given that the Elin are only capable to setup woman statistics when consumers taking part Popori and Baraka are only capable to setup men statistics. Gamers then choose from 9 playable lessons. Even though it is incredibly advised that game enthusiasts look for a competition with bonus items that enhances their ideal classification or play around form, or the other way around, there is genuinely nothing to prevent you from forming an Amani archer or maybe a Excellent Elf lancer. Some lessons also want additional ability to make use of and is probably not ideal for beginners. The ability desired is shown by star recommendations, with 5 superstars in order to be the foremost really difficult. Aside from the unbelievably extensive download and patching time, there is genuinely nothing undesirable I'm capable to say about Games With Gold. To get a totally free-to-play around game, you cannot fall short. High quality sharp graphics, smart feel, quickly-paced game play around, an original experience, with an astonishing figure creating software get this to game one of the best MMORPG’s I’ve conducted currently, hot and skimpy wardrobe apart. Games With Gold’s sharp graphics and environment are simply air-having and anything and everything seems legendary. The planet is well-off and comprehensive. The sprawling place is quite busy with individuals discussing and going on a vacation. The ambient favorite songs meets the subject just right and extremely helped me to give some thought to jousting knights and medieval feasts. Exceptional voiceovers from NPCs also improve the overall immersion. Fans through the Ignored Realms earth should be happy, given that the game elements celebrated regions like Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, and many more. Gamers earn Occupation enjoy by finish functions that incentive enjoy to use in your profession. Likewise, finish functions through the Management Occupation benefits game enthusiasts with Astral Gemstones, although functions in this profession do bring extensively greater to try and do than these.

New song! This one's a general-use battle theme for Lancer RPG!